Regional News - The Durango Herald

Colorado gay club shooting suspect charged with hate crimes

Prosecutors accuse Aldrich of 305 criminal counts including hate crimes, murder

DATE: Dec 6, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Sunday 2:05 a.m. Someone was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving near the intersection of West College Drive and Narrow Gauge Avenue. 12:06 a.m. Someo...

DATE: Dec 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

CPW volunteer cleared after 7-month investigation into racism claim

Dan Gates says he’ll recover, but fears that threat of unfounded claims will discourage 3,600 other volunteers

DATE: Dec 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Steve Wells spent only 30% of the $11 million set aside to beat Polis, Colorado Democrats

GOP donor says he intended to spend the full amount but refunded the majority after others declined to join him

DATE: Dec 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Gov. Polis’ budget proposal emphasizes preparedness for economic hardship

Record reserve funds put Colorado in a safe spot, per senior budgeting official

DATE: Dec 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Supreme Court taking up clash of religion, gay rights

Christian graphic at center of latest court case regarding free speech, discrimination

DATE: Dec 5, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

As CU Boulder hosts climate activists from across the world, some students protest its financial ties to fossil fuels

Dozens of University of Colorado Boulder students marched across campus Friday during the second day of a conference on climate change, demanding the university end its financial investments...

DATE: Dec 3, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Thursday 10:18 a.m. Several people were reported trespassing in the 500 block of Roosa Avenue. 12:36 p.m. A car sideswiped another vehicle in the parking l...

DATE: Dec 2, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Wednesday 12:46 p.m. A car rear-ended another car in the 600 block of Florida Road. 3:58 p.m. A school bus and a car collided in the 1200 block of South Ca...

DATE: Dec 1, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

White House highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding supporting Colorado

Bill will fund more than $2.9 million worth of projects across the state

DATE: Dec 1, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Election officials formally order recount in Boebert-Frisch race

3rd Congressional District congresswoman leads by 550 votes; new tally not expected to change outcome

DATE: Nov 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

The Blotter

Durango Police Department Tuesday 7:15 a.m. A T-bone car crash blocked traffic near the intersection of Larry Valdez Way and South Camino del Rio. 9:38 a.m. Someone at Schneider Par...

DATE: Nov 30, 2022 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado history gets weird, wild, wacky at Fashion Do’s and Don’tsAnnual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Cowboys. Fancy ladies. Gold miners. Even-toed ungulates that some in Durango might consider more like rats.Where can you find a runway show that takes you on a whirlwind tour through the weird, wacky and wildly exaggerated 150 years of Colorado history? Only at Durango’s annual Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, held Wednesday, where models and audience members donned costumes celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial – the theme of this year’s two-week Snowdown celebration.Standout acts included the Ghosts of Durango, which featured four of Durango’s most famous ghosts: a Rochester hotel ghost in a Victorian get-up of a more “modern” variation; the Strater Hotel’s head of housekeeping, also head of more discreet services; a young girl haunting El Rancho bathroom; and Sheriff Bob Thompson, killed in a 1906 gunfight. according to emcee Suzan Lane. A Another act was the secret circus society, featuring Rubi Starr, Jeni Gross, Tabatha Joy Bettin, Adrienne Young and Ethan Deffenbaugh dressed as a car and the roadside pests better known as deer. Group members said the inspiration for the costume came from lived experiences driving the Durango roads. The two-person Cantine Couture act starred Leslie Ponce and Tyler Frakes in an homage to the plentiful variety of Mexican restaurants found in any Colorado town. Ponce, dressed in comically large Mexican pointy cowboy boots, ambled down the runway as if taking a stroll under the hot, dusty, high-altitude sun, while Frakes flitted about the stage in a bright yellow salsa dress. Ponce said this years costume had been tough to decide, but the final decision was inspired by TikTok videos of Mexican cowboys in pointy boots. This was the duo’s third year strutting down the runway. Why they keep coming back for more, Frakes said laughing, was, “for the fame, the glory and the attention.”

Fashion Do’s and Don'ts has been one of the most highly anticipated Snowdown events since it’s inception in the 1990s. It has more than doubled in size over the past several decades. Last year, there were a record number of models, and in order to keep the event at a manageable size, this years fashion show was the first one to require the acts to audition. But many of the models were unphased by the change. “It was actually easy,” said Jodi Zuber, one part of the two-person duo that made up the 1950s Texas Invader Ski Couple. Her partner-in-costume, Danny Jaques, said they had been doing this for several years, and it’s good with everything going on in the world to “get some levity and let your hair down.” The performers were not the only ones in costume. Audience members also dressed in a wide variety of unique takes on what makes Colorado, Colorado. JonBenet Ramsey made a miraculous appearance, being played by an 82-year-old woman, as did Casa Bonita, an ensemble that included a taco, sopaipilla and gorilla in chains – to name some of the characters. By the end of the show, people were in high spirits, as usual. “It was just delightful,” said a first-time audience member. If blessed with the chance to get the much coveted tickets – he said he would jump on it. jbowman@durangoherald.com

Annual Snowdown event has become so popular, auditions are now required

Photos: Snowdown 2026 Fashion Do’s and Don’ts

Photos: Durango High School basketball teams lose to Montrose High School

Photos: Local girls high school wrestling at La Plata TriDurango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Durango girls wrestling went 2-0 to win Tri on Thursday night at Bayfield

Photos: Fort Lewis College women’s and men’s basketball take on Westminster UniversityBoth Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Both Skyhawks teams were victorious on Saturday afternoon

Photos: An afternoon in 2004 with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell as he works on Capitol HillDurango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Durango Herald Photo Editor Jerry McBride had the chance to spend an afternoon with the late Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell in 2004, photographing him during meetings and around the Capitol.

Photos and video: ICE protests return to DurangoAbout a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

About a dozen protesters tried to block federal agents from leaving with a detainee on Thursday

The Durango Herald’s year in photos 2025

Photos: Chapman Hill fires up the snow guns